Connection is a core human need. In fact, an 80-year Harvard study demonstrated how close and meaningful relationships keep individuals happy throughout their life – even more so than money or fame.
Yet, many of us forget to nurture the most important relationship we will ever have; the one with ourselves. If you can’t love yourself and make sure you’re meeting your own needs, you won’t be able to do the same for others.
But what does this mean exactly? Why does connecting with yourself help you connect with others? In this article, we’ll dive into the importance of connecting with yourself and how you can nurture that relationship even further.
Why Connecting With Yourself Helps You Connect With Others
You may have heard this saying before: ‘Treat others how you want to be treated.’ The problem is that many of us aren’t very kind to ourselves. For the most part, we’re our own worst critique. And if we flip this around, how you treat yourself is how you treat others.
Think about it.
If you judge yourself harshly, it’s likely you probably judge others too. If you struggle to accept yourself for all that you are, it’s probably hard for you to accept others for all their flaws and more.
But it’s okay! You can fix this. It all comes down to treating yourself better and loving yourself, even if you aren’t where you want to be. Remember, everyone starts somewhere and everyone’s life journey is different.
When you turn inward, self-analyze, and get to know yourself, you’ll be able to set healthy boundaries. These boundaries can help healthy relationships flourish, as well as deepen your connection with others. It means you won’t be left feeling taken advantage of, violated, or taken for granted. When you don’t set or know your own boundaries, feelings of resentment, anger, and hurt can quickly fester in your close relationships – something most of us definitely do not want!
So, how can you connect more deeply with yourself? Let’s find out.
How to Connect More With Yourself
1. Practice More Self-Compassion
Do you find that you beat yourself up for every mistake? If this sounds familiar, let’s commit right here and now to quit doing this. You will mess up (we all do). And usually, beating yourself up over it doesn’t get you to a better place.
Instead, own your failures, learn, and move forward. Understand why these things happened and grant yourself some compassion. Sometimes, projects fall behind. Sometimes, life gets in the way of our goals. Sometimes, you just can’t do it all. That’s okay. Cut yourself some slack from time to time. Ask yourself what you need right now, and then give that to yourself. This will help you get more in-tune with your needs, which will only allow you to become better at doing the same for others and those you love.
2. Set Aside Time for Yourself
Spending time alone can be scary. But it doesn’t have to be!
Take this time to dive into activities you enjoy. Or treat yourself to some self-love. Draw up a bath, stretch, bake, read, watch your favorite show, or do whatever you please! This time is yours. Take the pressure off and do whatever feels best. This can really help you understand your own likes, wants, and needs. That way, you can connect with others through common interests, views, and more.
3. Move Your Body With Kindness
Many of us fall into the trap of overexercising (yet, more isn’t always better) or not exercising at all. However, the human body needs movement. Movement helps everything function as it should.
But at the same time, you want to listen to your body. You want to tune into how each movement feels. Yoga or slow movement is great for this, especially if you don’t have the best body awareness. It can help you reconnect with your body, as well as serve as a form of self-care. Remember, you only get one body and it’s up to you to treat it right!
Strengthening Your Relationship With Yourself Will Improve the Rest of Your Life!
Deepening that connection with yourself won’t just help you connect better with others. It also floods into all other areas of your life, such as your career. When you know yourself, you can direct your life to where you want it to be. This includes going after the job you want and building those relationships you crave.
If you’re interested in showing yourself some more self-love, download the Happego app today. Find out how you can prime your mind to finally achieve your goals and more.